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Dad hooks up an iPad and Hue light to Minecraft for his son
Sure, the Phillips Hue (a light bulb that can be controlled with an iPad) might seem slightly silly, but one dad found a really good way to use it: By helping his son play some Minecraft. Dad #1 Jim Rutherford set up a quick iPad app to easily and quickly sync up the Hue light with wherever the sun is in his son's Minecraft game, and then the app automatically controls the light according to Minecraft's schedule. In other words, the light makes it exactly the same brightness in the real world as it is in the game's world. It's a very cool idea (and the app also has the added benefit of serving as a clock for the Minecraft game, as well as giving Rutherford some good experience for setting up the Hue). He's now open-sourced the project as well, and you can find the code for it on git. It's as neat a use for the Hue as any, and it's a great way for father and son to bond (and code) thanks to an iPad. [via TechCrunch]
Softbank to acquire competitor eAccess, expand LTE network by 50 percent
Softbank isn't content with being Japan's third largest wireless provider, so its scooping up competitor eAccess for $2.3 Billion (or $1.8 Billion, if you ask Reuters) to claim the number two slot. Bringing the other carrier into the fold will give Softbank a total of 39 million subscribers and infuse its network with 50 percent more LTE base stations. Picking up the new customers and additional LTE capacity comes at a premium, however, as the firm will purchase eAccess' shares for roughly three times their value. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son expects to launch a new tethering service with the aid of the new-found resources come this December. Ink on the deal won't fully dry until February, but Son is already dreaming of the number one spot. "I never liked third place," Son said in a statement. "We fought for No. 2, and someday, we will be No. 1." You've been warned, NTT DoCoMo. [Image credit: Miki Yoshihito, Flickr]
Japanese quake will likely affect the global supply of gadgets
Devastating. There are no words to effectively convey the human catastrophe suffered in Japan. Engadget would like to express our sincere condolences to those readers personally affected by recent events. As a tech publication, we're obviously focused on the impact these events will have on Japan's vast consumer electronics industry -- an industry that has responded with millions of dollars in cash, equipment and services to help with the relief effort. Thus far, Canon, Panasonic, and Sony have each pledged ¥300 million ($3.67 million) in donations. Sony is also matching employee contributions as will Mitsubishi who's donating a whopping ¥500 million ($6.1 million) in aid. On the equipment side, Sony is donating some 30,000 radios to relief efforts while Panasonic is providing 10,000 radios, 10,000 flashlights, and 500,000 batteries. NEC, Kyocera, and Epson are each donating ¥100 million in funds, computers, and telecoms and IT equipment. While it's still too early to quantify the exact impact the earthquake, tsunami, and ongoing nuclear troubles will have on the global tech industry, the scope of the issues is becoming clearer now that the initial chaos has passed. Click through to see how everything from laptop batteries to iPads are at risk.
Sony: Uncharted 2 has sold over one million copies
Okay, so Modern Warfare 2 sold more copies than there are people on the planet -- let's not get so lost in the hub-bub of everyone's new fling that we forget about the practically ancient Uncharted 2. Aren't you curious how it's been selling? Well, earlier today, at the BMO Capital Markets "Digital Entertainment Conference," Sony America VP of Business Development Phil Rosenberg announced that "as of last week, we've already sold over a million copies [of Uncharted 2] in just a couple weeks on the market." We have no way of knowing whether that number is accurate, though with the NPDs due out later today, we imagine we'll be finding out soon if it's as inflated as Nate Drake's ego, or if it's as accurate as Nate Drake ... using ... using a sniper rifle. And shooting stuff. Like, in an accurate manner. [Via G4TV]
Survey finds Xbox 360 is played five times as often as Wii, five times more likely to fail than PS3
Ready for some numbers this morning? Some scary, scary numbers for Xbox 360 gamers? Game Informer, current king of the smoldering ruins of the print gaming magazine empire, polled about 5,000 of its readers to get a feel for their gaming experiences, including just how many of them had unlocked the fabled "Red Ring of Death" achievement. We'd heard estimates ranging from 16 to 30 percent, but even the most pessimistic guesses don't line up with the survey's findings of a staggeringly high 54.2 percent failure rate. That's five times higher than the PS3's 10.6 percent, with the Wii coming in at 6.8 percent. Mind you, the Xbox 360 was the most played console, with over 40 percent of Xbox gamers button mashing for three to five hours a day, compared to 37 percent of PS3 gamers, and less than an hour's worth of gaming per day for 41.4 percent of Wii owners. However, game consoles should be designed to shrug off marathon sessions and just keep on spewing polygons, something that the first revisions of Microsoft's baby obviously couldn't manage. That said, there are some problems with this survey; as far as we can tell there was no verification made that respondents actually own the consoles that they indicated they did, and we all know how people like having fun at Microsoft's expense. Also, the survey was naturally only of readers of the magazine itself, who don't necessarily line up with the gaming world at large. But, it's impossible to deny there's truth in these numbers. Indeed, it's hard not to think they're too low, as you'll be hard-pressed to find an original Xbox 360 that hasn't thrown up the three-light salute. Even so, there's nothing to be proud of in Sony's 10.6 percent failure rate, or even Nintendo's 6.8, particularly given that system's relative lack of attention. All are much higher than the three percent most consumer electronics companies strive for -- and that Microsoft initially (incorrectly) claimed its console was managing. [Via TG Daily, The Consumerist]
Engadget Podcast 147 - 05.22.2009
It's the podcast you've been waiting for, maybe! Join Josh, Paul, and Nilay as they rock through their greatest hits, including: Palm Pre Launch Details, Storm 2 (The End of SurePress), Moblin Two-Point-Oh, and everyone's favorite, a little ditty called Slim PS3 Cease and Desist. Available now for just four easy payments of clicking below! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Fly Like an Eagle 03:13 - Palm Pre on June 6th for $200: It's official! 23:10 - BlackBerry Storm 2: the official unofficial hands-on 35:20 - Moblin 2.0 beta impressively demoed on video 54:36 - Slim PS3 update: mysterious Chinese firm issues a cease and desist... to Engadget Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Capcom reveals length of Sony approval process
It's rare that us common folk get a glimpse of the inner workings of the industry makers, so when we glean even the tiniest morsels of information, we take note. Today's nugget of wisdom comes from Christian Svensson, Capcom's vice president of strategic planning & business development. In an interview on the official company blog, Svensson sheds some light on how Sony's approval works, including the length of time to get approved."SCEA and MS can turn things around in 5-7 days most times," he said. "SCEE is closer to two weeks but they have a system where you can see the progress and bugs as they're testing." Svensson estimates it takes the company five or six more days after a fail report from one of the console makers before they resubmit. Rinse, lather, repeat. Keep that in mind next time you read about a PlayStation Network or Xbox Live Arcade game submitted for approval. Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix is currently awaiting approval on both platforms.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
'Ultimate proof' oracle regrets trading in Xbox 360
Since CNBC analyst Jane Wells granted us poor peons a glimpse into "the ultimate proof Sony is winning" two months ago, we at Joystiq have been eagerly awaiting another chance to hear from her son, the twelve16-year-old oracle who sealed Microsoft's fate by trading his Xbox 360 for a PS3. And lo, today the all-knowing king of business analysis didst speak once more, granting his youthful wisdom to us poor, unwashed masses."Hear me!" came the oracle's booming, high-pitched voice from on high as he surveyed his subjects from his beanbag chair throne. "Though mine PS3 still brings me pleasure, the pleasure of Xbox Live friends may be one that I have treated too lightly. My patience waiting for an offering of new games from Sony has forced me once more to explore the shores of Azeroth. Lo, though times are tough, do not be tempted by the spawn of Nintendo, for I would not be caught dead with that thing."With that, the doors of knowledge closed with a shattering thud, once again leaving us confused and in the dark. Still, we thank our benevolent information masters for this new glimpse into the heart of the game industry, however brief.
Sony bumps the specs of VAIO F- and C-series laptops
Not much to tell, but Sony just confirmed the updated specs we've already seen on their 15.4-inch VAIO F-series of laptops with Core 2 Duo T7250 processor, Blu-ray disk drive, and HDMI (a bit too early still for DisplayPort). They've also updated their VAIO C-series (pictured) for the ladies with options for a new T7250 processor and Radeon X2300 graphics. Yup, just seasonal updates to keep 'em fresh and in the news. [Via Akihabara News] Read -- VAIO F-series Read -- VAIO C-series
Father-son event at Nintendo world store
The Nintendo World Store held a father-son event in New York today for the title of "Biggest Brain." The winners were Rick and Michael Singer of Virginia who beat 30 other contestants (so, 15 teams?). The bracket-style playoff tested memorization, computation, analysis and other skills we overly evolved apes have. The event was a giant interactive advertisement for Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree.The Singers walked away with the "hot Wii," which we don't know if that means stolen, and a copy of the Wii Big Brain Academy. The best part is the father, Rick Singer, went to New York on a whim with his son, he says, "I asked my son to come to New York with me for Father's Day, but he said he'd only come if we could go to the Nintendo World store." So, dad wants to spend time with son, son wants to visit the Nintendo World Store, and they walk away with a Wii. Not a bad bonding experience.[Via Press Release]
Three-year-old's Tennis tantrum
Brian McConnell left his son, Adam, alone with a game of Wii Sports: Tennis for only a few moments to fetch a drink, but that was all the time the little demon needed. Not even a Wii remote strap could've saved Brian's plasma TV once the three-year-old set his mind on avenging a lost match. Brian came back to the living room to find his £1,000 television ruined, its 42-inch screen bashed by his Wiimote-wielding progeny. Queue up the darth_vader_nooo.jpg images. The forgiving father let Adam off the hook with only a light lecture and a two-week Wii ban. That's a lot more lenient than the hanging, drawing, and quartering punishment one of our NintenDadz would've sought. [Via Engadget]
NintenDadz: Never Good Enough For You Edition
Growing up without a father in your life can be tough, we know. Do any of these scenes sound familiar? Staring outside the window, watching your friends learn to ride a bike with their dads while you spend the afternoon alone, cutting out misshapen dinosaurs from construction paper? Learning to shave from that old Simpsons episode when Homer taught Bart instead of having your own pops show you how to use a razor? Buying a Father's Day card every year "just in case," even though you know there's no point? It's been over 20 years; why would he want to see you now?With IBW Publications' NintenDadz software, you can still have those essential life lessons and childhood experiences that single-parent families often lack. Play catch in the backyard, build a birdhouse, and enjoy dozens of other simulated father-son activities with over 100 minigames to choose from! Leave your self-pity at the door, and run past the post break for the NintenDadz fact sheet and the father you've always wished would come home.
